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The phone next to Kleya's keyboard shrieked.
She jammed it under her chin and kept typing.
"Help desk?"
She was supposed to say "thank you for calling" but she never did. What was the point, she was never thankful for the calls.
"I'm afraid it's happened again," a softly spoken voice said apologetically.
"Again?" Kleya repeated flatly.
"Mmhmm."
Kleya sighed heavily. "I'll come up."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it." The caller hung up.
Kleya jabbed the phone into its base unit and rubbed her eyes.
She was never going to get the cataloguing system updated at this rate. Her co-worker, Andor, was being absolutely no help, he kept disappearing to flirt with one of the assistants upstairs. He'd just dump all his outstanding support tickets into her inbox at the end of his shift and let her figure it out.
She could complain, but she didn't want anyone else being sent out to join them. At least Andor didn't interfere with the way she worked. Kleya was quite particular when it came to how things were done. After all, garbage in, garbage out.
She stood and stretched out her aching back. It was a small consolation the staff room upstairs had a decent caf machine. She'd pleaded the case for the IT team to have a similar one but apparently two workers didn't constitute a pressing need when they could just share.
That went against everything Kleya believed in. She tried to only leave their basement office when it was absolutely necessary, like when she had to go home. In-person troubleshooting had never been required at their previous location, at least from her. Everyone was too scared to approach her.
You threw a printer one time and suddenly you had a reputation for aggression.
But their old building had been sold off for budgetary reasons and now she and Andor had to share premises with the library team. Going forward the library IT structure would be their only responsibility.
In short, the library had lost their basement and Kleya had lost all her patience. The head librarian, Mon Mothma, was a certified luddite. She was apparently extremely well respected and widely published in her specialist field - the history of democracy - but Kleya was almost certain she must write her papers on a slate with chalk. The woman could barely work a mouse.
Every single shift Kleya worked, Mon would call down at least once with the most basic tech problem. So Kleya would be forced to trudge up three flights of stairs - the elevator still wasn't working, budget problems again - to show her how to reset her email password. Again. For the hundredth time.
It was actually 19, 20 including today. But who was counting.
It wasn't like Mon worked alone, she had a whole team of staff below her who should be able to help with this kind of thing. When Kleya had pointed that out Mon had said she wouldn't trust Vel to touch her computer. Which was fair enough, Vel Sartha had an even worse reputation than Kleya did for being short tempered. Kleya had seen her once viciously and maliciously kick a trolley for daring to be squeaky. Not very becoming in a library professional.
Rumor had it she was a nepo hire and Kleya was fairly sure she was dating the sharp eyed security guard Cinta.
Kleya had instead suggested using her assistant. Mon had responded that Erskin had at one time deleted her entire profile when trying to fix a rogue spell-checker. The woman always had a perfectly reasonable counter to every argument Kleya put forth. Mon should have gone into politics, not libraries. The upshot was, she would only trust Kleya with her tech problems. It was infuriating.
In desperation, Kleya tried suggesting she could remotely access Mon's computer, thus avoiding the stairs, but that was a no go because, again, Mon could barely use the mouse, let alone open the search bar.
At least she was getting her cardio in.
She swiped open the door to the public library floor. It was heaving with bodies, there were students on every available surface.
Oh yes, she had a vague feeling some kind of important deadline was approaching. That would explain the panicked expressions and air of generalized despair. It was easy to forget when you spent most of your time underground that this was a university building.
She wove her way carefully towards the 'staff only' area, dodging backpacks and empty cans of energy drinks.
She passed Mrs Karn on the help desk, patiently handing a tissue to a student in floods of tears.
Kleya quickly ducked through the door, she didn't want to get stuck in another conversation about why Eedy's son Syril would be just perfect for her.
At least the lift in here worked. She jabbed the button for the top floor. Before the doors could close completely a body threw itself into the cab, sending books flying. One hefty text managed to smack Kleya right in the face.
"What the hells is wrong with you?" she snapped, rubbing her chin.
It was Erskin, Mon's assistant. The profile deleter. He paled as he realized who he had just accidentally assaulted.
"I'm so sorry, I must have tripped, are you alright, did I hit you?" he babbled in a panic, reaching out his hands.
"Don't touch me!" Kleya jerked backwards.
Erskin tripped over a loose volume and fell right into Kleya. His solid body crashed her into the glass wall of the elevator. Painfully.
He'd tried to brace himself as he fell. His hands landed somewhere rather unfortunate.
Which was naturally when the doors decided to open.
~~~~~
Mon certainly hadn't been expecting to catch her assistant in the elevator with his hands full of Kleya's breasts.
She blinked rapidly. No, the image was still there.
Kleya looked ready to kill someone. Erskin looked like he was going to pass out.
Before Mon could ask what in the HR violation they were up to, Kleya made a gutteral sound. It was like hearing a wampa at the zoo.
"Get you hands off of me!" she snarled, shoving Erskin with surprising strength.
"I'm so, so sorry," Erskin looked close to tears as he sank to the floor.
It probably didn't help that he was frantically rubbing his hands on his pants.
Kleya looked at him with open disgust as she stormed off towards Mon's office.
"It was an accident! I swear! I tripped and fell." Erskin sagged.
Mon didn't comment as she helped him pick up the books scattered on the floor.
"I'm going to be fired, aren't I?" he moaned in despair.
"I wasn't planning on it," Mon said kindly. "Although I'd stay away from Kleya for a while. Let me talk to her."
The young man nodded morosely and hurried off to his small office that adjoined Mon's.
Well, what a way to start the day!
While it was clearly distressing for the younger woman, Mon couldn't help but be a tiny bit jealous of Erskin's misadventure. So far she hadn't even got close to groping Kleya, despite her best efforts.
It was common knowledge that the brunette was interested in women. Mon herself had come out later in life but was happily making up for lost time. She'd been enchanted with the grumpy tech since she'd first met her.
There was something about Kleya that just fascinated Mon. On the surface she seemed surly and disagreeable. But she had been nothing but patient with Mon's repeated requests for help, no matter how ridiculous. Mon found her dry wit and cutting turns of phrase delightfully refreshing. It didn't hurt that she was painfully gorgeous either.
Mon was determined to befriend her. It was proving quite tricky. Kleya didn't socialize with the other members of staff; by all accounts she barely even spoke to her own colleague, Cassian. Not that she would have much chance, they worked an almost opposite shift pattern and he was always up in the library talking to Bix. Mon didn't begrudge him it, Bix was a lovely if wayward young woman and they seemed to make a fun, albeit slightly unpredictable, couple.
So Mon had resorted to a rather underhanded plan she was secretly quite pleased with. Once she had exhausted all of the normal computer problems she routinely encountered, she had begun inventing issues for Kleya to come up and fix.
Mon had needed to get creative. Taking scissors to that cable in the conference room had probably been flirting with improbability, she reflected. She stuck to more plausible scenarios after that.
It was very possible Kleya now thought she was a complete imbecile but the ruse was working to an extent.
At first Kleya would come up, quickly fix whatever Mon had broken and then immediately leave. But Mon had slowly started engaging her in conversation and now they would exchange small talk. The librarian had found out that Kleya's father was, in fact, Luthen Rael, Mon's equivalent over at the nearby museum. Mon had worked with him several times over the years. She'd had no idea he and Kleya were related. It made sense though, Luthen also had a quick mind and a non-conformist streak.
Mon found the woman in question standing in her office, still fuming. She plucked a cup of hot caf off her desk and handed it to her. It was their arrangement now. Mon would always have a drink ready for when Kleya arrived.
The younger woman nodded her thanks. Mon pulled a second chair behind her desk. They sat side by side while Kleya sipped her drink.
Mon turned to her. "Are you alright? That looked a little tense?" She carefully placed a hand on Kleya's forearm.
"I'm fine," Kleya said automatically.
Mon raised an eyebrow and squeezed her arm gently.
Kleya sighed. "It was an accident."
Mon nodded. "It's still perfectly reasonable to be upset."
Erskin certainly was.
He was gay too, but Mon didn't know if Kleya was aware and she wasn't going to out a colleague without his consent.
"You don't need to worry, I'm not going to report it," Kleya made a face.
Mon frowned. "I'm not, I'm concerned about you."
Kleya looked surprised by that. She finished her drink and seemed slightly more relaxed. "I'm ok. But thank you."
They shared a small smile between them. It was mostly Mon's work but Kleya contributed.
"So, password?" Kleya sounded resigned.
Mon nodded guiltily.
"What happened to the instructions I wrote for you?"
"Oh, they had a bit of a misadventure."
Mon opened a drawer and withdrew an extremely stained scrap of paper.
Kleya's eyebrows shot up. "What did you do? Dip it in your tea?"
Actually that was exactly what Mon had done.
"Take me through it one more time?" Mon asked, eyes open and earnest.
~~~~~
"And we're back in," Kleya was triumphant.
Mon had diligently taken detailed notes on the password recovery process. Again. With an honest to the gods fountain pen.
She had beautiful handwriting, Kleya noted absently.
Maybe Mon did write all her papers by hand.
"Would you like me to laminate that for you?" Kleya teased gently.
Mon ducked her head. "No, I think Erskin will be able to handle it. But thank you, you're a life saver," Mon beamed.
She had a lovely smile too.
Kleya's lips twitched in response.
She couldn't help it. There was something magnetic about Mon. It wasn't just that she was striking; tall and elegant with interesting features. She was also ridiculously intelligent and kind, even to Kleya. She always asked thoughtfully after Luthen and had a caf waiting for her.
Her father had spoken highly of Mon when Kleya explained where she now worked. Luthen's esteem counted for a lot in Kleya's book.
That she also had a weakness for sophisticated older women was entirely irrelevant.
It was especially unfair that today Mon was wearing her glasses. Kleya had almost fallen flat on her face the first time Mon had peered over the frames at her. Talk about a fantasy come to life.
But Kleya had a strict no dating at work policy. She'd seen that go explosively wrong on too many occasions to want to risk it herself. Tempting as it was.
A few weeks ago the thought of asking the other woman out would have been utterly laughable. She and Mon hadn't exactly made the best first impressions on each other...
~~~~~
The meeting to discuss the merger of their two departments had been an unmitigated disaster. Both Kleya and Mon had objected in the strongest terms. Which translated to a stand-up shouting match over the HR mediator's head.
Kleya was furious at having to work in a dingy basement with Andor. Mon was livid they were losing the library's storage space. Yes, they would still have the official archive on the floor above, and the restoration centre on the floor above that, but there were countless uncatalogued treasures in the basement itself. They didn't have time to sort through them before the space needed clearing. The institution would have to downsize several of their collections. To a librarian it was like asking which of her children she would most like to feed to a sarlacc.
But ultimately they hadn't had any choice in the matter. It was a done deal. So Kleya and Andor had spent an exhausting week relocating all their equipment and setting up their office. It had been gruelling not just because the work was physical but Andor wouldn't stop making terrible jokes and sarcastic quips. Not normally given to idle chatter at the best of times, Kleya had been forced to threaten him with a screwdriver. He'd left her alone after that.
She had a suspicion that the office idiot and the ice queen had been partnered together and exiled as a punishment. The minute she could prove it she was filing a grievance.
To make matters even worse, the minute they were finally up and running, Mon's calls had started.
Kleya received the brunt of it.
"My computer won't turn on."
It wasn't plugged in.
"I can't access the holonet."
It had been disconnected.
"I'm locked out of my emails."
Wrong password.
"My keyboard isn't working."
Vel had spilled caf on it. Maybe Mon was right about not letting her cousin near her desk.
"The projector in the conference room isn't working."
The cable had been cut in half?!
"Oh, it must have been the cleaner's vacuum."
Not unless the cleaner used a lawnmower. But it wasn't Kleya's job to argue with management.
At one point Mon's entire operating system had disappeared.
"Power cut?" was the best the librarian could offer.
By email password problem number 7, Kleya had, on several occasions, nearly strangled the senior manager with a usb cable.
Mon's issues had been relentless. And often so trivial anyone with access to the holonet and basic comprehension skills could have solved them.
The turning point in their relationship, ironically, had come when Kleya had finally snapped and told Mon, in no uncertain terms, that this wasn't her job.
She'd been exhausted. Andor had done something stupid to some code the day before and she'd spent nearly 10 solid hours working to fix it. The non-stop complaints from the staff upstairs hadn't helped, unsurprisingly.
When Mon had summoned her with the issue that her printer wasn't working, it had been the final straw.
Kleya had yelled at her. She'd really let go and vented all her frustration.
Erskin had poked his head in, face drawn with worry, but Mon had waved him off, unconcerned.
Kleya hadn't even noticed, she just kept ranting, pacing up and down.
Mon had just sat and listened in silence. Then left the room. Kleya was sure she was going to get Cinta. But no, Mon had returned with a steaming mug of caf and directed Kleya to sit on her spare chair.
"Drink that."
Kleya had moaned in pleasure. It was excellent.
"We have a machine in the staff room," Mon explained, grinning at her obvious ecstasy.
"I drink tea myself," she pointed to a pretty gold tea set on a counter against one wall. "But you're welcome to use the machine whenever you want."
Kleya appreciated the offer but not even free, amazing caf would get her up those stairs if she didn't absolutely have to. Still, it was kind of Mon to suggest it.
After that it became their routine. Kleya still disliked the constant trips to the surface but she didn't hate seeing Mon. They had even become what she would term 'friendly.' That Mon would sit so closely and watch her work so attentively, all while smelling divine, certainly didn't hurt.
Seriously, was that her perfume or did she just naturally smell like that?
What would her skin taste like?
No! No dating at work. That was the rule.
~~~~~
"Where have you been?" Andor asked as she returned to her station.
They had a cross over of an hour before she could leave. She was surprised to see Bix sitting on his desk. Nobody came down to their lair unnecessarily.
"Mon was having problems again."
Cassian laughed. "What was it this time? Her mouse disappear?"
"Her email password," Kleya said dryly.
Bix frowned. "That's weird."
"What's weird?" Cassian asked.
"Mon doesn't usually have IT problems."
Kleya's head shot up. "What?"
"Yeah, she's been on a few courses and everything. She makes her own presentations when she speaks at conferences. She shouldn't have mouse trouble." Bix shrugged, unconcerned.
"I've only had to see her once. For some reason it's always Kleya's bad luck," Andor sniggered.
Kleya's faced dropped.
Suddenly the pieces clicked into place.
This must have been her plan all along. Mon still resented the IT duo for taking her basement. She had been deliberately wasting Kleya's time, as what? Petty revenge? To get her into trouble?
Kleya felt sick that she had even thought about considering her a friend. Or potentially something else. What a fool Mon had made her look.
Then the anger rose over her like a tidal wave. She had lost so much time on her own project. She was getting heat from her manager about the slow progress even though she already did overtime to make up for it. The system they were upgrading was archaic. It wasn't their fault. But apparently it was Mon's.
"Are you alright?" Cassian looked alarmed. Kleya had gone white and was shaking.
"I'll be right back," she growled.
"Kleya?" he called after her but she ignored him.
She had never made it up the stairs so fast. Pure rage was carrying her on swift wings.
~~~~~
Mon's office door suddenly slammed open.
Mon jumped. She had been talking to Erskin about her next conference engagement.
"Kleya?" Mon was alarmed. The other woman looked incandescent.
"I know what you've been doing," Kleya said icily.
Mon's face dropped.
Oh, so it was true.
"I suggest you get out," she growled at Erskin.
"I'm going to get Cinta," he whispered to Mon as he dove past the vibrating brunette.
"I can explain," Mon tried to calm her down.
"Can you? You've been wasting my time for weeks now! You didn't have any problems at all, you made it all up to stop me working." Kleya's jaw was ticking alarmingly.
"Kleya, please, it's not what you think," Mon stood and held out her hands, placating.
"You've been trying to get me fired! I didn't even want to be in your kriffing basement, it wasn't my decision! But you're so petty and childish that you came up with this insane campaign. Well congratulations! My manager is furious with me. I'll probably be reassigned somewhere even worse. So good job. You won."
Kleya's chest was heaving, it was partly the exertion, partly unbridled emotion.
Mon's eyes blinked rapidly.
Oh dear gods what had she done.
"Kleya, it's really not what you think," she pleaded.
Kleya wasn't buying it.
"Isn't it? So you're telling me your mouse was actually broken? All five times, including the day it just disappeared?"
"Well, no," Mon averted her gaze.
Kleya went to storm off before she threw something again. Like herself down the stairs.
Mon grabbed her arm.
"Please, wait."
"Get your hand off me," Kleya hissed.
Mon instantly dropped it.
"I wasn't trying to get you disciplined. That's not what I was doing. Please, let me explain?"
There was something in her voice that made Kleya turn back around.
"I honestly didn't realize I was taking up so much of your time, I'll explain to your manager it was all my fault," Mon offered.
Kleya continued glaring. "So why were you doing it?"
Erskin appeared in the doorway with Cinta. And Vel.
Oh good, Kleya was going to be manhandled out of the building. She wouldn't have to take the stairs after all.
"You won't be needed Cinta, this is a simple misunderstanding," Mon raised her voice.
Cinta didn't move. Neither did Vel. Erskin looked uncertainly between the women.
"Answer my question or I'm quitting right now," Kleya barked.
Mon panicked at the thought. "No, don't, please!"
Kleya crossed her arms over her chest.
Mon ran a hand through her hair. But she couldn't speak.
"That's what I thought," Kleya spat bitterly.
She spun around and started to head towards the doorway. She'd have to push past the other staff. Good, she needed an outlet for this pent up aggression.
"I did it because I wanted to see you!" Mon blurted out.
Kleya froze and turned her head.
"What?"
Mon blushed furiously. "I wanted to see you so I made up reasons for you to come to my office". She looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her up.
Vel was sniggering behind them. Mon glared at her.
"I don't understand?" Kleya's eyebrows drew together in confusion.
Mon looked at the ceiling in despair. She was going to have to spell this out.
"I like you," Mon said through gritted teeth.
Kleya looked at her in stunned silence.
"Oh Mon," Vel was wheezing, bent over, hands on her knees. "You useless kriffing lesbian."
"Ok, I think it's time for us to go," Cinta grabbed her arm and pushed Erskin.
"No, we can't go, it's just getting good!" Vel protested.
"Vel," Cinta warned.
Vel sighed dramatically and stomped off.
"Good luck, Mon, you're going to need it," Cinta called over her shoulder, firmly shutting the office door behind her.
They heard explosive laughter in the distance.
"Explain." Kleya sat on her usual chair.
Well, she hadn't bolted from the room. That had to be a positive sign, surely?
Mon gingerly sat next to her.
"There's not much else to say," she rubbed her neck nervously. "I like you, Kleya."
There was a beat as Kleya took that information in. "As a friend?"
Dear gods just strike her down, it would be less painful.
"No," Mon sounded out slowly.
"We're not friends?" Kleya seemed put out now.
"Yes, we are." Mon corrected, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But that's not quite how I feel about you."
Well, she couldn't have said that any more inelegantly if she tried but it was out there now.
You could have heard a pin drop.
"You're attracted to me?" Kleya sounded uncertain
Mon sighed in relief. "Yes."
"Oh." Kleya was silent again.
Mon's heart sank. She'd known it was a long shot but had been hopeful.
She'd better do some damage control.
"I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable. And obviously I'll straighten this all out with your manager. You won't hear from me again, I promise," she backpedaled.
How the hells was she going to look Vel in the eye now? She'd made a fool of herself in front of half her staff.
"Stop talking," Kleya said quietly.
Mon's mouth slammed shut.
"Why didn't you just ask me out?"
Mon gaped at her. "Would you have said yes?"
Kleya sat back, a dangerous look on her face.
"You won't know unless you ask."
She had reclaimed her power.
Mon's eyes were wide. "I - um, would you like to?"
"Would I like to what?" Kleya asked, innocently.
She was going to make her say every single word, the sadist, Mon thought.
But Mon Mothma was a grown woman and she could manage to ask a pretty girl out on a date. Probably.
She squared her shoulders.
"Would you like to go for caf with me?"
Kleya immediately shook her head. "No."
It was like a punch to the gut. Mon hadn't expected the younger woman to be cruel but she supposed she deserved it for all the trouble she had caused. She stood quickly and rounded her desk, she wanted some space between them.
"Ok, I think it's best we leave it there," she mumbled.
Kleya hadn't moved. Her eyes tracked Mon, sparkling with mirth.
"I don't want to go for caf with you, Mon," she purred quietly.
"Yes, I know, you've made that quite clear." Mon wouldn't cry, she wouldn't. It had just been a very stressful day, that was all.
Kleya seemed to realize how badly the older woman was taking this.
She stood and approached her slowly. Mon resisted the urge to back away like a wounded fathier.
To her shock, Kleya's hands reached out and cupped her face. Her thumbs stroked her cheekbones. Mon's breath caught at the gentleness.
"You don't like caf, Mon," Kleya said with amusement. "I'd rather we went for dinner instead." She grinned.
Mon's heart started beating again.
Then -
"You did that on purpose!" she accused.
Kleya inclined her head. "Call it payback for whatever Vel is currently cooking up."
She had Mon there. Vel was no doubt trying to fill Kleya's office with flitterbats as they spoke.
Kleya slid her hands off Mon's face and wrapped her arms around her neck.
"So, dinner?"
Mon's hands settled on her waist.
"I think I could manage that. Tonight?" she asked hopefully.
"Someone's eager," Kleya smirked.
"I think I've made that abundantly clear," Mon said dryly.
"On one condition," Kleya said firmly.
"Anything," Mon replied without engaging her brain
"Hmm, you're very agreeable. That's good to know," Kleya's smile was positively wicked.
Mon rolled her eyes, trying not to turn even redder. "The condition?" she prompted.
"I want a caf machine."
Mon threw her head back, laughing in relief.
"I was getting you one for the solstice anyway," she admitted.
Kleya nearly dropped to her knees.
"Marry me?" she asked, wide eyed.
"Let's start with dinner and see where the night takes us?" Mon suggested.
They stopped talking. The moment stretched. They noticed how close their faces had become. Mon was staring at Kleya's lips. Kleya encouraged Mon's head forwards slightly with her arms.
Mon closed the tiny gap.
There were cheers from the doorway. They jumped apart. Andor was whistling. Vel was booing. Eedy was wiping a tear from her eye.
Cinta nodded approvingly then shooed everyone away.
"You need to start locking that door," Kleya grumbled.
"I'll install a deadbolt," Mon promised, pulling her back in by her waistband.
Vel ducked back for a second before being yanked away by Cinta.
~~~~~
Cassian noticed strange things happening in the IT office after The Kiss.
A fancy caf machine was delivered the very next day. He had caught Kleya stroking it and whispering sweet nothings into its bean hopper.
An engineer appeared to fix the basement elevator, out of nowhere. Miraculously he had all the parts he needed on hand.
Worst of all, Kleya had started smiling.
It was all deeply unsettling.
On the plus side, Mon's constant calls for help had stopped, so they were once again making progress on the upgrade.
Not that the librarian would ever need to call now that Kleya spent her mornings 'remote working' in Mon's much more comfortable private office.
He supposed it made sense since most days they travelled in to work together in Mon's hovercar; although they took pains to make sure they entered the building separately.
He found it hilarious they still thought they were being discreet when half the people who worked in the building had seen them messily making out. And those that hadn't, soon received the blurry photo Vel managed to take before Cinta caught her.
What an interesting meeting with HR that must have been. He wished he'd been a fly on the wall. He could only imagine the things that must have come out of Kleya's mouth.
He heard his colleague's footsteps approaching. It sounded like Bix was with her.
He hastily swept the small jewellery box he had been fidgeting with into his desk drawer.
One grand romantic workplace gesture was quite enough, it wouldn't do for people to start thinking IT workers had passionate souls. They'd never stop getting calls. It was much better to cultivate an image of superior aloofness.
Besides, he'd much rather catch Bix on her own somewhere special.
No offence Kleya but the library? Really?